Fantasy Baseball Two-Start Pitchers (April 13-19)

I’m loving the upcoming week of fantasy baseball. The week looks prime with two-start pitchers, with many teams’ aces taking the mound. Fantasy baseball managers with these pitchers have an edge regardless of the scoring system. If you’re new to my series, I break pitchers down into four tiers.

More great Fantasy Baseball Analysis: Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire | Weekly SP Rankings | Pitching Streamers | Two-Start Pitchers | Lineup Analysis | MLB Injury Report | Rookie Report | Advanced Stats | Under the Radar | Overvalued & Undervalued | Bullpen Report

The first tier is the “No-Brainers,” with ideal pitchers and matchups that require no thought to start. Then the “Next In Line” tier, which will include other optimal matchups but carries a sense of risk. The third tier is the “Streamer” tier, which is what the name suggests: pitchers who can produce decent stats, but the matchups aren’t ideal, so start at your own risk. The last tier is the “Avoid” tier, which includes pitchers with terrible matchups or who have been pitching badly and can be left on the bench or on the waiver wire.

I also go into more detail on my favorite two-start pitchers of the week. This week, Garrett Crochet and Paul Skenes are the obvious top choices to start. Because of this, I chose not to include them in my favorite pitchers section. You don’t need me to convince you why two of the best pitchers in MLB are at the top of my list.

April 13-19 Two-Start Pitchers

My Three Favorite Two-Start Pitchers

Drew Rasmussen, Tampa Bay Rays (@ White Sox, @ Pirates)

When healthy, Rasmussen has been one of the best pitchers in MLB. He’s only thrown more than 50 innings three times in his previous six seasons. However, in each of those seasons, he’s been dominant on the mound, not exceeding a 2.90 ERA. The 30-year-old is starting hot again in both his games to begin the season. He has a 1.80 ERA, a 25% strikeout percentage, and a 2.5% walk percentage over 10 innings.

He hasn’t gone deeper than five innings in both starts, but the Rays are likely taking a conservative approach with Rasmussen to keep him healthy all season. The White Sox are an excellent target for a strikeout pitcher. The team ranks fourth in Ks (132) this season and ranks 27th in batting average (.204). The Pirates are on the opposite ends of both of these stats, 21st in strikeouts (101) and eighth in average (.247), but they aren’t a team to fear.

Jeffrey Springs, Athletics (vs Rangers, vs White Sox)

Springs has been phenomenal this season, posting a 1.47 ERA in his three starts. What’s impressive is that his outings have been against teams projected for the postseason (the Blue Jays, the Astros, and the Yankees).

He had a no-hitter going into the seventh inning during his last outing against the Yankees. Granted, the Yankees are in a slump at the plate, but it was still a solid performance. Neither the Rangers nor the White Sox is on the level of the teams Springer has already faced, so the Athletics’ pitcher should continue his fantastic start to the season.

Gavin Williams, Cleveland Guardians (@ Cardinals, vs Orioles)

Williams had a breakout season last year, posting a 3.06 ERA over 167.2 innings. He started this season hotter, with a 2.04 ERA, also against top-tier talent (Mariners, Dodgers, and Royals). His 37.3% strikeout percentage is outstanding, including his outing against the Dodgers, where Williams struck out 10.

The 26-year-old should continue to sit batters down against the Orioles, who rank 11th in strikeouts. The Cardinals are a little tougher on this front, but their offense doesn’t strike fear in anyone. Look for the Guardians’ ace to secure two more impressive outings this upcoming week.

No-Brainers

Garrett Crochet, Boston Red Sox (@ Twins, vs Tigers)

Paul Skenes, Pittsburgh Pirates (vs Nationals, vs Rays)

Bryan Woo, Seattle Mariners (@ Padres, vs Rangers)

Christopher Sanchez, Philadelphia Phillies (vs Cubs, vs Braves)

George Kirby, Seattle Mariners (vs Astros, vs Rangers)

Kevin Gausman, Toronto Blue Jays (@ Brewers, @ Diamondbacks)

Trevor Rogers, Baltimore Orioles (vs Diamondbacks, @ Guardians)

Michael King, San Diego Padres (vs Mariners, @ Angels)

Robbie Ray, San Francisco Giants (@ Reds, @ Nationals)

Next In Line

Cole Ragans, Kansas City Royals (@ Tigers, @ Yankees)

Framber Valdez, Detroit Tigers (vs Royals, @ Red Sox)

Reynaldo Lopez, Atlanta Braves (vs Marlins, @ Phillies)

Eury Perez, Miami Marlins (@ Braves, vs Brewers)

Nathan Eovaldi, Texas Rangers (@ Athletics, @ Mariners)

Brandon Woodruff, Milwaukee Brewers (vs Blue Jays, @ Marlins)

Kyle Bradish, Baltimore Orioles (vs Diamondbacks, @ Guardians)

Mackenzie Gore, Texas Rangers (@ Athletics, @ Mariners)

Mitch Keller, Pittsburgh Pirates (vs Nationals, vs Rays)

Ryan Weathers, New York Yankees (vs Angels, vs Royals)

Joey Cantillo, Cleveland Guardians (@ Cardinals, vs Orioles)

Will Warren, New York Yankees (vs Angels, vs Royals)

Streamers

Ryne Nelson, Arizona Diamondbacks (@ Orioles, vs Blue Jays)

Bailey Ober, Minnesota Twins (vs Red Sox, vs Reds)

Mike Burrows, Houston Astros (@ Mariners, vs Cardinals)

Grant Holmes, Atlanta Braves (vs Marlins, @ Phillies)

Luis Severino, Athletics (vs Rangers, vs White Sox)

Matthew Liberatore, St. Louis Cardinals (vs Guardians, @ Astros)

Sean Burke, Chicago White Sox (vs Rays, @ Athletics)

Yusei Kikuchi, Los Angeles Angels (@ Yankees, vs Padres)

Cade Cavalli, Washington Nationals (@ Pirates, vs Giants)

Christian Javier, Houston Astros (vs Rockies, vs Cardinals)

Avoid

Reid Detmers, Los Angeles Angels (@ Yankees, vs Padres)

David Peterson, New York Mets (@ Dodgers, @ Cubs)

Miles Mikolas, Washington Nationals (@ Pirates, vs Giants)

Michael Lorenzen, Colorado Rockies (@ Astros, vs Dodgers)

Javier Assad, Chicago Cubs (@ Phillies, vs Mets)

Brady Singer, Cincinnati Reds (vs Giants, @ Twins)